A new cardiac cath lab at Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Government Hospital in Bhayandar West is in the final stage of completion and is expected to begin offering free heart treatment before December, according to hospital officials cited by Loksatta. The facility will provide angiography, angioplasty and other cardiac procedures for patients from Mira-Bhayandar and nearby areas.
The centre is also expected to examine and treat congenital heart conditions, including holes in the hearts of children. Treatments and surgeries at the facility will be provided free of charge, with the service intended to improve access for economically weaker patients who may otherwise face high costs for cardiac care.
The hospital has a capacity of 200 beds and currently provides treatment for a limited range of illnesses, even as it receives a large number of patients. The cardiac facility is part of a broader effort over the past few years to expand the hospital’s treatment capacity and introduce additional medical services.
Approval for the cardiac cath lab was granted in March 2024. A separate building has since been constructed within the hospital campus. The building has been located near the hospital entrance because patients suffering a heart attack require rapid access to treatment, according to the report.
Dr Jaffer Tadvi, the hospital’s superintendent and surgeon, said the civil and electrical work for the cath lab had been completed and that the medical equipment had been installed. A 10-bed intensive care unit has also been prepared for the centre.
Four nurses have completed training at Mumbai’s J.J. Hospital, while a proposal seeking the appointment of doctors, technicians and other medical staff has been sent to the health department. The staffing process remains an important step before the centre can begin full operations.
The planned services include angiography, which is used to examine blood vessels, and angioplasty, a procedure used to open narrowed or blocked arteries. The facility will also provide assessment and treatment related to holes in children’s hearts, according to information provided by the hospital superintendent.
The centre is expected to serve residents of Mira-Bhayandar as well as patients who currently travel towards Mumbai or Gujarat for cardiac treatment. Its location within a government hospital could reduce the distance patients need to travel for specialised care, although the start of services will depend on the completion of staffing and operational preparations.
Hospital authorities have not announced a specific opening date. The facility is expected to become operational before December, with the health department’s response to the staffing proposal forming part of the remaining process.
